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On my way back to Switzerland after visiting English L'Abri, I was able to enjoy the pleasures of browsing through a bookstore which sold (yes!) English books. I had been recommended a book by a friend called, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel and bought it along with two other novels. It is an extrordinary book about faith, reality and being lost at sea with a bunch of dangerous animals. But amongst many vivid descriptions of the boy's two-hundred-and-something days adventure, is a lovely image of the sky. He writes:
"There are many skies. The sky was invaded by great white clouds, flat on the bottom but round and billowy on top. The sky was completely cloudless, of a blue quite shattering to the senses. The sky was a heavy, suffocating blanket of grey cloud, but without promise of rain. The sky was thinly overcast. The sky was dappled with small, white, fleecy clouds. The sky was streaked with high, thin clouds that looked like a cotton ball stretched apart. The sky was a featureless milky haze. The sky was a density of dark and blustery rain clouds that passed by without delivering rain The sky was a mere block to allow a visual effect on the horizonThe sky was a distant black curtain of falling rain" (pg 215)
This makes me think of Huemoz and the surrounding view of the Alps we have, which do change quite dramatically with the sky. A couple of weeks ago we had some snow, all melted now, but for the white capped peaks of the mountains. The air is now cold and crisp. We are thankful for this little village where L'Abri is situated and are daily reminded of the creativity of God in this amazing environment. It really is a blessing to be able to share a part of our lives with students who come here for many different reasons. Some just to have the space from regular commitments to think and reflect, others to seek truth and meaning, or to work through personal conflicts. At the moment, I can hear the laughter and cheers as a group of students enjoys themselves on the volley ball court.
These past five months have seen the summer vacation in July when Jim and Gail began their sabbatical. They will be away until the summer term next year. We trust that they are enjoying themselves and finding the space for reflection and respite while they are away from the work here. Even though we all miss them, we have been managing well despite not having them here. Richard Bradfords parents, George and Laura came in September to give their help and support. George preached each of the four Sundays that they were here, and they both helped with meals and involved themselves very much within the commumity by getting to know the rest of us and the students. Their help was very much appreciated and we are looking forward to having them come again in January 2004 for a month.
Dave, one of our newer workers, married Anna Alpine in August in the States before travelling to Canada and a short honeymoon. They are now back here, and are living in Le Poulet and are settling into married life well, whilst being an integral part of the community. Anna is a helper at present and Dave continues to tutor, lecture, and preach amongst other things. From time to time we glimpse them teaching swing dancing to enthusiastic students on a Saturday night.
Kay has replaced Dave in Bellevue and is also settling in well to a new job and a new home. Maintaining a Chalet full of lively students can have its moments, but Kay seems to enjoy her work and is enthusiastic about people.
However, Claudia, who has worked in Bellevue for a number of years, has decided to leave L'Abri to pursue other passions and directions in Germany. She will be missed by us all.
The children of the workers are all back at school to start a new year. Simon and Alexis Bradford have settled very well into their new schools (Simon has just begun school) and both enjoy their classmates and teachers. Vincent Laughery has also settled well into his final year of high school and we pray that the year goes well for him so that he will have more options for what he does after he completes this stage of his education. Please also pray for Alexander Laughery that all goes well with his exams and that he will be more sure of his next stage of education.
Everyone else seems to be well and keeping busy with an active term.
Arts Week this year was in the last week of September and was a very lively week. As usual, it was an encouragement to be part of a week which celebrated the arts and creativity. We were thankful to have with us a number of guest lecturers. Ellis Potter came with his wife Mary and spoke to us on the kinds of music God likes and facilitated a workshop/discussion on understanding and viewing paintings. Debbie Levi from the States lectured on the history of sacred music and Karen Sandri lectured on the painter Kandinsky. Other events included a swing dance evening, a discussion about modern art, and an entertaining and enjoyable evening with Philip Fretz's "recyling jazz" band from Geneva, Pamela's Parade. As usual we finished the week with a student performance evening which was filled with the different talents of the students. We were so overwhelmed with performances, that we had to have a spill-over evening the following Tuesday. All in all we were challenged and entertained as we interacted during the week with each other's creativity.
We have a varied group of students this term, many who are not Christians, but who are seeking for truth and meaning in their lives. Many students are struggling with the very real pain they are facing within their families, such as divorce, conflict with parents and anger etc. Some students continue to question their faith in God and how healing can come about when they are suspicious of trusting, especially where trust has been betrayed in their lives by others. These agonies remind us that God desires healing within the whole person and that so much in our lives can have an affect on our spirituality.
Our finances have not been the best over the past few months. We are grateful that recently our bills and our wages have been paid, but we have some major repairs which need to be made. Bellevue is in need of a total electrical overhaul, which will cost thousands of dollars money we do not have. This is over and above usual maintenance bills, such as repairs to Chalets and the Bellevue car upkeep. Please pray that we may be able to take care of Bellevue very soon so as to keep on top of things.
There are only four weeks left of this term before we break for Christmas. Some of the workers will be travelling back to America and Canada to spend time with their families. Others of us will be here enjoying each others company. However, Christmas can be a difficult time for many people especially when you are away from familiar Christmas celebrations (a cold winter with potential snow is not my idea of Christmas where the beach, hot humid days and lots of out door eating is what I am familiar with in Australia despite the fact that we still insist on decorating our homes with snow scenes, Santa Clauses in warm gear and riding on sleds pulled by reindeer!). Then we begin our new term at the beginning of January.
Thank you for your continued interest and support for the work that goes on here in Switzerland. We are thankful for God's provision for this work and pray that he continues to bring students and workers of his choice here, as well as continual provision. We have a full term already for the new year and ask that you keep in mind the students that are here presently and the new ones who arrive in January.
We wish you a joyful Christmas as we think of God's grace in redeeming us through the work of Christ. Warmly Karryn Goldsworthy PS!
From time to time we send out a more frequent prayer letter by e-mail
only to those who commit themselves to pray with us on a monthly basis.
If you are interested please send an e-mail to swissmailings@labri.org.
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